facts needed for interpretation. The marvellous only filters out slowly.
But they had their own way of dealing with him. The _kenshi_ (coroner)
made his report. Examinations, fines, bribes, the funeral costs, reduced
Cho[u]bei to his worst garment. With this after some weeks he was
permitted to go free. The house owner had turned him out. The wardsmen
had expelled him. Enough of Kazaguruma Cho[u]bei--for the present.

CHAPTER XVI

NEWS REACHES KWAIBA

Kwaiba was hard at it, practising his favourite arts. His _sake_ cup
stood before him, and from time to time he raised the bottle from the
hot water, testing its temperature with skilled hand. He accompanied the
action with a continual drone of a _gidayu_. Kwaiba by no means confined
the art of _gidayu_ recitation to the heroic tales usually therewith
associated. His present effort was one of the suggestive and obscene
_ukarebushi_, quite as frequent and as well received in the _gidayu_
theme containing them. Kibei listened and applauded, with cynical
amusement at the depravity of the impotent old man. Kwaiba had found an
excellent bottle companion, and renewed his own former days in the
"Quarter," with the fresher experiences retailed by Kibei. Said
Kwaiba--"All has gone well. For half the year Kibei has been the son of
Kwaiba. He has brought luck into the house." Kibei bowed respectfully.
Continued the old man--"Iemon with his whore is fast destroying Tamiya
by riot and drinking. Cho[u]zaemon is a fish in the net. The debt of ten
_ryo[u]_ has doubled into twenty _ryo[u]_, which at any cost he must
repay. Kwaiba will make him cut belly if he don't. And Tamiya! Old
Tamiya; Matazaemon! O'Iwa is paying his debt to Kwaiba by becoming an
outcast, perhaps a beggar somewhere on the highway. If she shows her
face in the ward, seeking 'cash' to keep life in a wretched carcass,
this Kwaiba will send her to the jail, to rot as vagrant. But what did
become of her? Iemon has never spoken." Kibei shrugged his shoulders. "A
close mouthed fellow; too wise to talk of himself. He would but say that
Cho[u]bei took the affair in hand." Kwaiba threw up his hands in horror
and merriment. Said he--"'Tis rumoured the fellow is a pimp. But surely
he could not dispose of O'Iwa in his line. The very demons of the Hell
of lust would refuse all intercourse with her."

Just then Kakusuke presented himself. "Report to make to the Go Inkyo[u]
Sama. Inagaki Dono sends his compliments to Ito[u